Valve for vehicle jacks



Feb. 28, 1950 Filed Oct. 17, 1945 R. H. MOCLURE 2,499,072

FIE-.1.

I N v E N TOR ia/ifafl H Mcf/ure ATTO R N EYS Feb. 28, 1950 R. H. MQCLURE 2,499,072

VALVE FOR VEHICLE JACKS Filed odt. 1'1, 1 e45 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

- 26 rm] 1 IEE L INVENTOR ffo/sfn h. McC/ure Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED S TATES F'FICE VALVE FOR VEHICLE .IACKS Ralston H. McClure, Detroit, Mien, assignor of one thi'r'd to Wiley'K. Crowder and one-third to Wortha'n A. Snell, both of Eetroit, Mich;

Application October 1'7, 1945, Serial No. 622,833

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to jacks for vehicles and more specifically to jacks permanentlymounted at each of the wheels of such vehicle.

Among the objects of the invention is a jacking system wherein a jack is preferably fixed to the vehicle axle housing adjacent each of the wheels and means for selectively actuating the several jacks.

Another object is a jacking'system in which the jacks are fixed to an unsprung portion of the vehicle so that, in lifting the wheel, the spring or springs remain in compression. 7

Another object is such a jack system in which any one or all of the jacks may be actuated.

Another object is a jack system which is operab le independently of the vehicle motor.

Still another object is a jack system which is simple in construction and installation and which cannot easily get out of order.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in-the art upon reierenceto the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobileindieating the preferred location of the parts of the system.

Fig. 2 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the essential: parts of the system and their connections, butshowing only a single jack.

Fig. 3 is a view of a. jack mounting and showing the jack in section;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 5-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section online 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat larger longitudinal central section of one or" the jacks.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 'l- -i of Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified jack mountih'g. means.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are "central longitudinal secti'onal views of the control valve showing the latter in three positions.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views of the valve on lines l2-l2, l3- -l3', and i l-l4, respec'- tively, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the valve.

Fig. 16 is a sectionalview of the pressure limiting switch.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal central. section of the fluid pump.

2 Fig. 18 is a section on line I8-l8 of Fig. 17.

As indicated above, and in the drawings, the invention consists in a plurality of jacks to be mounted one at each wheel of a vehicle, and means for actuating a-sel'ected' one or all simultaneously to lift one or all of'the wheels of the Vehicle.

In the drawings, an automobile is indicated. at A with jacks at B, each of the latter being fixed to'anaiile or axle housing adjacent the wheel, and having at C a control valve; thisbei'ng preferably mounted-upon the instrument board or other suitable position easily accessible to the operator ofthe vehicle.

In Fig. 2 is shown more or less diagrammatically the essential elements of the embodiment of the invention, only one jackbeing shown. In this figure, a hydraulic j'ackdescriloed in detail laterds shov'vn at 25 having connected thereto a fluid conduit 28 leading from a control valve 2'l.

'luid underpressure is supplied to the valve 21 through a conduit 28 from ap'ump 29 which draws such fluid from a reservoir 3%). The pump 29 is actuated by an electric motor 3! receiving current through a lead 32 from a battery or other source 33, thereturn lead frommotor 3| to source 33 being-through lead 34, automatic pressure controlled switch 35, connection 35, hand switch 31, and lead 38.

Fluid return from the jack 25 to reservoir 3! is through conduit 26, Valve 21, and conduit 40.

Taking now the-several elements in order, the form of jack and its mounting is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive.

In these figures. the jack. 25-

shown as of quite simple construction and shown to consist of an outer cylinder closed at its upper end and connected to the-fluid conduit 26. This cylinder is fixed to the axle housing as described below and has slidable in it a piston 5i carried on the upper end of asecond tube 52' extending from the lower end of the cylinder 5!? and having on-its lower end a root piece .53, which closes the latter tube against leakage oi fluid. v

Fixed in the lower end of cylinder 58 at diametrically opposite points is a pair of guide lugs 5 adapted to coact with grooves 55 formed in the side walls of tube below the piston 5! to act as stops for tube 52 and also to prevent rotation of the latter.

The piston 5| is shown as provided with a suitable packing 56 consisting of a ring of a suitable synthetic rubber, preferably neoprene or other fluid-resisting material, carried in a circumferential groove 51 in the piston.

Also carried within the cylinder 50 and tube 52 and fixed to the end closures of these parts is a tension spring 58 which is preferably under some tension when the jack is retracted.

As indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the jack 25 may be mounted adjacent a wheel by welding it upon a roughly triangular bracket 60 which in turn is bolted as at 6| to a ring 62 adapted to surround the mud excluding edge of the brake anchor plate 63 which latter is of course a fixed element of the axle housing. The ring 62 is fixed in place by drawing together its ends as by a bolt 64 and adjustment of the position of the jack accomplished by moving the ring 62 or a limited adjustment provided for by slotting the bolt holes in bracket 60, such slotted holes being shown at 65.

A modified form of mounting for the jack 25 is shown in Figure 8, in which the jack is shown as welded to a triangular plate 65A which in turn is welded to the ring 62.

The control valve 2'! is shown in detail in Figures 9 to 15 and consists of a cylinder having a central bore and a wall of sufficient thickness to accommodate a longitudinal passage H open to one end of the cylinder and connected at its other end to an inner peripheral groove or channel E2.

The conduit 28 is open to cylinder 10 at a point near the lower end thereof and between conduit 28 and the lower end of cylinder 10 and equispaced around the cylinder are the conduits 26 leading to the several jacks 25.

Slidably fitted in cylinder i0 is a valve member provided with a suitable knob 76 by means of which it may be rotated and/or moved longitudinally. It is also provided with a short axial bore T1 in its lower end and with a wide circumferential groove 18 which opens to the bore 11 through a radial passage 79. bore 11 is a radial passage 80. The lower end of bore 17 is preferably closed by a screw 8| provided with a kerf and extending well below the valve 15.

The upper end portion of valve I5 is provided with two circumferential grooves 82 and 83 and four indentations 84 adapted to coact with a suitable spring pressed ball detent 85 serving to hold the valve in its several positions.

Further, the upper end of cylinder E0 is fixed within a suitable flanged collar 90 which serves to mount the valve assembly on the vehicle and also carries a suitable switch adapted to complete the motor circuit for operation of the jacks. This switch is shown as consisting of a stationary contact 9! and a movable contact 92 carried on a plunger 93 mounted radially in collar 90 and urged toward closed position by a spring 94. The inner end of plunger 93 extends into the counterbore 95 of the collar into the path of the knob 16 so that when the knob is moved to its most inward position the circuit is opened.

In the operation of the valve, in its inward position (Figure 9), the circuit is broken at switch 9 l92 and the several passages are as follows:

The pressure line '28 is closed, and the lines 26 from the jacks are open to groove 78 and, through i9, 11, and 80 connected to the chamber 89 at the lower end of cylinder 10. The chamber 89 is connected to return conduit 40.

Also opening to L In the position of Figure 10, the valve 15 has been withdrawn so that the ball detent is in groove 82 and the knob 16 has moved away from plunger 93' so that the switch 9l92 is closed. Further, the groove 18 has moved up to close passage and thereby close the return Way. This groove '18 is of sufiicient width to bridge the inlet 28 and the jack conduits 26, so that, in this position, all four jacks are operated simultaneously.

In the position of Figure 11, the valve has moved up until the detent coacts with the indentations 84 and groove 18, while still open to inlet '28 is closed to outlets 2B. Fluid, however, can flow from groove 18 into passage 11 through passage 19, and from passage 11 through passage 88 into whichever jack conduit 26 happens to register therewith. The particular jack conduit '26 will, of course, be determined by the rotative position of valve 15, and this will be indicated by the ball detent and also by suitable indications on the knob 16, and collar 90. For example, the knob may, as shown in Figure 15, carry an arrow MA and the collar, the lettering as shown, indicating the four jacks.

As indicated above, the motor circuit is also controlled by a pressure limiting device actuating the switch 35 and such a device is shown in Figure 16 to consist of a cylinder Hit connected by a short conduit it?! to the pressure conduit 28 and containing a piston :02, the upward movement of which is resisted by a spring H33 selected or calibrated to resist pressures up to a predetermined amount. The piston N12 is fixed to a piston rod H34 extending up through the cover member 35 and carrying at its outer end a switch actuating element 896 adapted to open or close the switch 35.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the construction of pump 23. This may consist of a body portion Ill], preferably welded to the bottom of reservoir 30 and provided with a cylinder HI into which leads an inlet i 12, and having an outlet and valve therefor M3, to which is connected the conduit 28. Operating in cylinder ii! is a piston H4 having integral therewith a yoke I I5 in which rotates the eccentric Hi5 fixed to the bottom end of the shaft H1 which is an extension of the shaft of motor 31.

I claim:

A distributing valve for a plurality of hydraulic devices comprising a casing having an inlet port for admission of fluid under pressure, a plurality of outlets ports at equidistantly spaced points around the same and in the same plane and a return port; a valve body mounted in said casing for longitudinal movement and rotation therein, said body having an axial bore closed at both ends, a pair of radial passages leading into and communicating with said bore and a wide annular groove around its periphery communicating with one of said radial passages; and means indicating a plurality of longitudinal selected positions of said body in said casing, in one of said selected positions of said valve body the outlet ports communicate with the groove and the bore through one of said radial passages, and the other radial passage is open to said return port; in another selected operative position of the valve body in said casing the groove communicates with said inlet port and all of the outlet ports, with the radial passages cut off from the return port; and in another final selected position of said valve body the groove is open to the inlet port and the bore through one of said radial passages and 2,499,072 5 through the other radial passage to an individual Number outlet port selectable through rotation of said 1,300,107 body in said casing. 1,711,565 RALSTON H. McCLURE. 1,743,005 5 1,780,972 REFERENCES CITED I 1,907,208

The following references are of record in the file of this patent. 2:353:855 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,401,787

Number Name Date 728,611 Potter May 19, 1903 6 Name Date Bacon Apr. 8, 1919 Hatfield et a1. May 7, 1929 Resler Jan. 7, 1930 Neuberg Nov. 11, 1930 Lebel May 2, 1933 Goldman Mar. 27, 1934' Sessions Feb. 22, 1938 Schwarz July 18, 1944 McClure June 11, 1946 

